Navigating the US Department of State Pathways Internship Program: A Comprehensive Guide

For students and recent graduates seeking valuable work experience and a potential pathway to federal careers, the US Department of State Pathways Internship Program offers enriching opportunities. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the program, its components, eligibility requirements, and application process.

Introduction to the Pathways Program

Whether you are on a defined career path or exploring different options, the Pathways Program is designed for students and recent graduates seeking rewarding experiences to complement their education. The program is comprised of three key components: the Internship Program, the Recent Graduates Program, and the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program. Each component caters to different academic levels and career stages, offering unique opportunities within the federal government.

Internship Program: Exploring Federal Careers While in School

The Internship Program is tailored for high school and college students who are looking for internships or other avenues to gain work experience while still pursuing their education. This program provides paid opportunities for students enrolled in various educational institutions, ranging from high school to graduate level. It allows them to work in federal agencies and explore potential careers in the civil service. Successful completion of the program may lead to conversion to a permanent position.

Student Summer Employment

The Student Summer Employment component provides training and work experience during the summer months. To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a diploma, certificate, or degree-seeking student. These opportunities are typically announced from January through March each year.

Internship Program Requirements

Generally, the requirements for a Pathways Internship are the same regardless of the specific branch, department, or role. These requirements include:

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Being at least 16 years of age.
Being a U.S. citizen.
Eligibility to receive a Secret or Top Secret security clearance.
Enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a diploma, certificate, or degree-seeking student.

Internship Program Components

The Department of State's Pathways Internship Program includes both the Internship Temporary Program (ITEP) and the Internship Experience Program (IEP). Both programs provide students with opportunities to explore Federal careers while being paid for the work performed.

Internship Experience Program (IEP): Interns in this program are appointed to non-temporary, excepted service appointments, expected to last the length of the academic program for which the intern is enrolled. IEP participants, while in the program, are eligible for noncompetitive promotions if they meet the developed qualification standards for the position. IEP interns are also eligible for federal employee benefits (e.g. life, health, and retirement).
Internship Temporary Program (ITEP): The temporary nature of the ITEP allows for interns to work during seasonal and holiday breaks in academic programs as well as year-round. Interns in this program are appointed to temporary appointments, not to exceed one year or their projected graduation date (whichever is shorter) and extensions may be made in one year increments. The positions to which the interns are appointed have no promotion potential, therefore, students must apply through USAJOBS to be considered for higher-graded positions. ITEP participants who are expected to work 130 hours per month or more for at least 90 days will be eligible to enroll in a health benefits plan. ITEP participants are not eligible for any other benefits until after conversion into the competitive service.

Conversion Opportunities

Pathways Internship: After successfully completing 640 hours, interns are eligible for full-time conversion in any agency non-competitively and without submitting an application.
Post-Secondary Student hiring authority: If students meet a series of requirements upon completion of their degrees, hiring managers have flexibility to convert these former students to permanent positions.

Recent Graduates Program: Launching a Federal Career

The Recent Graduates Program (RGP) offers developmental experiences in the Federal Government, promoting potential careers in civil service. To be eligible, applicants must apply within two years of degree or certificate completion. Veterans have up to six years after degree completion to apply, due to their military service obligation. After just one year of service, participants can either continue with a civil service career or move into the private sector.

Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program: Developing Future Leaders

The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program is a two-year, paid program designed to cultivate future leaders committed to excellence in public policy and program management. Candidates must be nominated by their graduate program’s dean, director, or chair. Upon successful completion of the program, fellows may be eligible for permanent placement within a federal agency. This program is for students who are in the process of completing their master’s, law, or doctoral-level degree within the academic year.

Additional Opportunities

Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program

The CDC Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program offers students work experience in various occupations during the academic year and/or summer months, exposing them to a wide range of opportunities, including public health careers.

Student Worksite Experience Program (SWEP)

The CDC Student Worksite Experience Program (SWEP) offers high school and college students non-paid, educationally related work opportunities. Students can gain practical experience by engaging in projects and tasks that contribute to their professional development. SWEP is available to any CIO interested in providing an eager student with temporary, unpaid, practical work experience. Students volunteer for a maximum of six months (180 days) during the academic school year or summer months.

Thurgood Marshall College Foundation/CDC Ambassador and Internship Program

The Thurgood Marshall College Foundation/CDC Ambassador and Internship Program is designed to increase interest in public health careers among minority students, and to increase minority representation in mission critical occupations at CDC and the public health workforce. Student ambassadors work at their campuses and in their communities to actively promote public service and public health among their peers as a means of making a positive difference.

Colin Powell Leadership Program

The Colin Powell Leadership Program recruits highly motivated individuals from a variety of backgrounds who aspire to and possess the potential to become future civil service leaders in the Department.

MBA Special Advisor Fellowship

The MBA Special Advisor Fellowship seeks to strengthen the Department's strategic management and operations capabilities through leading-edge solutions and academia.

National Service Programs

The Department of the Interior partners with national service members to provide special skills training and offer a path into Federal service. Individuals who meet specific requirements may be eligible for noncompetitive appointment to Federal jobs upon successful completion of the program.

Eligibility Requirements

In addition to program-specific requirements, general eligibility criteria apply to most Pathways programs. These include:

Citizenship: Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
Student Status: A student means you have been accepted for enrollment, or are enrolled as a degree-seeking student in an accredited college or university at least half time. You may also be currently enrolled in high school for some positions.
Academic Standing: For non-research positions, completion of all requirements for a Ph.D. At the undergraduate level, successfully completed education that has not led to possession of a degree is credited based on its relationship to 120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours. For example, 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours is comparable to 1 year of undergraduate education. Four years of progressive study or 120 semester hours meets the degree requirements.
Graduate Education: An academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 academic year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement.
Veterans' Preference: If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit proof of veterans' preference with your application.

The Application Process

Finding and Applying for Positions

USAJOBS: Students looking for federal internships should visit USA Jobs Pathways for opportunities for students and recent grads. The Pathways site features frequently asked questions with detailed information about types of opportunities and the application process. All Internship positions will be posted to USAJobs, year round, on an as-needed basis based on the needs of the Department.
Agency Websites: Federal agencies also list internship opportunities on their own Web sites.
"Gateway to State" System: Prospective candidates may apply for a Pathways position only when one is announced in a position Vacancy Announcement on the USAJOBS online application site. Once an announcement is posted on www.USAJOBS.gov, complete applications (to include all required documents) must be submitted electronically through the "Gateway to State" system.

Application Deadline

Candidates have until 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to complete the application process, or when the specified application limit has been reached, whichever comes first. Candidates are encouraged to complete their applications well before the application deadline to ensure they receive consideration. If a candidate modifies their application before the announcement closes, a new time stamp will be assigned to their submission, potentially pushing them past the application cut-off limits. There is a maximum number of applications for each vacancy announcement. The vacancy will close on the closing date listed in the announcement or the day the maximum number of applications is received. The vacancy will close when the first of these conditions are met.

Required Documents

The following documents must be submitted for your application package to be considered complete:

Current transcripts: Unofficial transcripts are sufficient with the application; however if selected, an official college transcript will be required. Transcripts MUST include the student's name, name of the school, current GPA/academic standing, past and current coursework, and degree program.
Proof of Enrollment: Proof of Enrollment may include a screen shot of the semester class schedule, an official letter of enrollment, or listed on official transcripts.
Veterans' Preference Documents:
- For 5-point veteran's preference: You must provide a copy of your DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4 is preferable) which must show the type of discharge and dates of active duty. If you are currently on active duty, you must provide a certification on letterhead from your military branch which contains your military service date, expected date of discharge or release, and the character of service to show that your military service was performed under honorable conditions. The expected date of discharge or release must be within 120 days of the date the certification is submitted for consideration for this vacancy announcement.
- For 10-point veteran's preference: You must submit a current version of the SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference), dated October 2013, and any documentation required by this form to support your claim. Previous editions of the SF-15 will not be accepted.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Scale: While the government uses at least six different pay scales, the majority of Civil Service employees are paid using the GS (General Schedule) pay scale. The General Service pay scale for Civil Service employees features 15 pay grades, GS-1 (lowest) - GS-15 (highest) with 10 steps within each grade.
Leave: Employees hired under the Pathways Programs on appointments for 90 days or more are eligible to earn annual and sick leave.
Health Benefits: Interns hired under the Internship Temporary Experience Program (ITEP) are considered temporary employees and are generally eligible to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program if they are expected to work 130 hours per month or more for at least 90 days, in accordance with 5 CFR 890.102. Those who meet the criteria laid out in these provisions will receive the same government contribution as full-time permanent employees.

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